Topic: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

@Tsurii
The select screen in the Direct was 11 x 9, plus 5 on the bottom row. That's 99 + 5, 104, including the "Random" block.

Right?

Granted, I do think the 103 number will wind up being a lie. I think they'll end up with a few more. There are, in theory, 6 open blocks left on the bottom row. I know a few past stages are not in that screen (might not return at all). I think we'll have something like 2 more new ones and a few more returning ones.

@DarkSim01 Yes, there are 103 stages released shown on that screen. That said, "Now the total number of stages is 103" definitely could be interpreted to mean as of the time it was shown. I think we'll definitely be seeing further stages added on by release, probably another 2-4.

For reference, the missing 17 stages out of the 120 to ever exist are:

• Rumble Falls - Vertical
• Jungle Hijinxs - Probably breaks stage morph due to the two plane feature.
• Mute City (Melee) - Remade as Port City Aero Dive
• Flat Zone 2 - Part of Flat Zone X
• Flat Zone - Part of Flat Zone X
• Icicle Mountain - Vertical
• Rainbow Road - Low effort stage tossed in at the last second to boost numbers
• Mushroom Kingdom (Melee) - A remake of Mushroom Kingdom 64, still distinct
• Planet Zebes - Remade as Brinstar, still distinct
• Pyrosphere - Ridley
• Miiverse - Dead
• PictoChat - Remade as Pictochat 2, but still distinct
• Pac-Maze - Technical issues with multi screen
• Poké Floats - Low effort stage tossed in at the last second to boost numbers
• Sector Z - remade as Corneria
• Orbital Gate Assault - Disliked, but other than that dunno
• Woolly World - Dunno

So most of the missing stages are pretty explicable. That said, hopefully we'll see some more come back as DLC

I think i seen above the messages a blur out space in the ZR menu I think that could be DLC
Also I think They are going to have at least 2 more echoes for fire emblem Robin at the point will go with with ceilica from echeos with Alm as her final smash or Alm as Ike echo I do think an Axe user might come in Now hector is the one that comes to mind due to body type.I do see saber as an assist if my theroy happens new stage idea zofia castle
Pokemon
Desudeye is a main fighter with a stage based on the battle royal or the platform in iki town That seems to be a good gen 7 rep with pokken and nice z-move and being an archer with more gen 7 pokemon.
Shadow is my next big choice for an fighter or echo and maybe a stage based on SA2 or Mania is likely and tails may be an assist to along with knuckles
Ken from street fighter as Ryu echo maybe

The weirdest thing about the Direct is pretty much no online info. For the main game Nintendo's banking on for paid online subscriptions, everything's very quiet on that front.

@link3710 Good job with the info. I was actually just looking at all of that and came up with the same conclusion. I agree on all fronts. Most of the stages they left off make sense, as they would basically just be duplicates (or at least not different enough). With six spots left on the bottom, I think we'll see the board filled out. To expand on what I had in my big post above:

New Sonic Stage
New Pokemon Stage
New Kong Stage (to replace Rumble Falls and Jungle Hijinxs)
Remaster of Ken's original SFII Stage
New Yoshi Stage (based on the new game, to replace Woolly World)

For the sixth, I could see them doing a Mario Party themed stage or even something completely original to either partner with the game's assumed adventure mode or even something based on Sakurai himself, like the original bedroom from SSB 64 or some "Ultimate" stage made specifically for this game. Something to honor Sakurai for all the hard work he's done over the years.

Poke Floats was awesome though. Crushes me that Poke Floats is probably gonna be left behind.

Can't wait tbh. Me and my friends are all going to buy this and play as if it's 2005 again.

@Grumblevolcano I have a theory on that one. You see that blurred out icon on the main menu? It kind of looks like a microphone. And we know that Nintendo implemented voice chat into the API earlier this year, and nothing's used it so far on the first party front. That'd be a big announcement to make in September, right alongside the start of paid online, now wouldn't it?

@DarkSim01 I highly doubt we'll get another Sonic stage, it's the only 3rd party with two.

I don't know if people even want Arms characters or not, but it would seem odd to not include Nintendo fighting game characters in a fighting game full of Nintendo characters.

@link3710
You are probably right we won't get another Sonic stage. But one can hope. If they add Robotnik like I dream of, coupled with the massive resurgence brought on from Sonic Mania, I wouldn't be surprised though.

I have a reliable source that tells me there's gonna be a Sonic Mania stage.

@PokeMario I'd certainly like to see an Arms character, but I think Arms is too recent, so they won't have had time to develop an Arms character for Smash. Maybe as DLC in the future though?

Ha! Game Explain with the missing 15 levels:

Correct. 103 stages + the random button + 6 free spaces for new/locked stages.

I love the idea of a Miiverse "Best Of" stage (where characters have a number of default messages). It would take away surprises but it would be a nice clean stage now with official Miiverse-style art. I also want the missing 3DS stages (Rainbow Road and Pac-Man) back.

@SKTTR I don't think Pac-Maze can function on the Switch, it relied on the 3DS's nature of everyone having their own screen to work.

@meleebrawler Golden Plains did the same but that's in Ultimate.

They could easily adapt it.

The thing is... It's just a much better PacMan stage than that WiiU one... Even if they removed the gimmick completely, it would still be better.

So I just had an email from Nintendo about an upgrade to my order for Smash bros. Apparently the Official Smash Bros Ultimate Steelbook has been announced so they have upgraded my order to include this.
I suspect others may get the same message, and perhaps the recently announced limited edition might include this as well. Probably find amazon, and other retailers will start upgrading orders as well.
https://store.nintendo.co.uk/games/nintendo-switch/super-smas...

Whaaaat a steelbook? I hope we get it in the US

@MisterPi Hopefully it's for every region

Official email reads:
"Thank you for your recent pre-order of Super Smash Bros Ultimate for Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo Official UK Store.
We are contacting you as the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Official Steelbook has been announced for release.
We want to assure you, that as a loyal Nintendo UK Store customer, you will be receiving this with your order, so you won't miss out!
Please look forward to receiving the Official Steelbook at the same time as your receive your order of the Super Smash Bros Ultimate game."